Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns: June 3, 2004

Cattlemen's Capitol Concerns

June 3, 2004

The CCC is a weekly report from Washington D.C. giving an up-to-date summary of top policy initiatives concerning the cattle industry; direct from National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

USDA Surveillance System:  The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance program began this week, June 1, 2004. NCBA believes it will take a concerted effort of coordination and cooperation from all segments of the beef industry, including federal and state government cooperation to successfully carry out this aggressive program. As stated in recent letters to the USDA, it is imperative that they address as many issues as possible. NCBA strongly suggests a multi-phased approach to implementation to ensure that all parties are properly trained in the testing protocols. NCBA is expecting answers this week to a series of questions and concerns pertaining to the "on-farm’’ and "harvest" portions of the surveillance program.

The U.S. is the only country with a single case of BSE to implement such a thorough testing program.  The USDA will test over 200,000 U.S. cattle for BSE over 12-18 months in a one-time increased surveillance program to assess the level of risk in the U.S. NCBA is asking for the Animal and Plant Health inspection Service (APHIS) and the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to hold a series of meetings to discuss the implementation. We need a nation-wide, industry inclusive level of understanding about all aspects of this important effort. APHIS says it will report any inconclusive results daily online at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/bse-enhan_surv/bse_test_results.html

Drought Relief: NCBA is requesting that the USDA allow access to Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grounds for grazing in drought-stricken areas of the country. This Wednesday, we sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Veneman asking for assistance in providing relief to cattle producers. NCBA is specifically requesting that state Farm Service Agencies be granted the authority to allow grazing on acres enrolled in CRP, subject to conditions existing at the local level. Allowing CRP grazing will enable cattlemen to stretch available forage sources. We are asking the USDA to grant state FSA offices this authority as soon as possible, so that producers may evaluate grazing options for the remainder of the year, and thus make sound resource management decisions.

Additionally, NCBA is requesting the USDA make available all of the resources at their disposal to deal with this drought, including feed assistance, emergency conservation, or any other program that will assist producers dealing with drought. Cattle producers do appreciate the many programs that USDA has made available over time for those suffering through extreme drought conditions. The Drought Coordinating Council allowed the USDA to be proactive in dealing with last year’s drought. We are urging the USDA to ensure that this council is engaged in the current drought, so they can effectively marshal the resources needed to help producers through these difficult conditions.

Export Markets Update: Here’s a brief overview on the latest actions in the U.S. beef export world. Yesterday, Honduras announced that they were lifting restrictions on U.S. beef and the official documentation on this should be coming through shortly. Costa Rica and El Salvador are both said to be very close to reopening as well with acceptance of FSIS health certificate language pending. On June 2, Indonesia announced that it was lifting its ban on U.S. beef and product imports. Thus far, beef livers, hearts and "feet" are operational and it is expected that most if not all of the $14.67 million in 2003 trade will return to normal.

On June 1, exports of boneless beef from cattle less than 30 months of age to Guatemala resumed. On May 26, exports of boneless beef to Belize resumed, and on May 19, exports of beef from animals less than 30 months of age (no Advanced Meat Recovery) resumed to the Dominican Republic. Nicaragua reopened its borders to U.S. beef back in March and the expected reopening of Costa Rica and El Salvador will mean that the CAFTA countries have all reopened their markets to U.S. beef. U.S. beef is now being exported to countries that in 2003 accounted for approximately 31 percent or roughly $1.2 billion of the record $3.86 billion in 2003 beef and beef variety meat exports.

Environmental Regulations: In recent years, cattle producers have become subject to increasing environmental regulations. One such regulation requires that large CAFOs apply for a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and establish a site-specific system that allows for no discharge of manure, litter or process wastewater pollutants into the waters of the U.S. from the production area by April 2006. Currently, the best practicable control technology available to achieve the zero discharge requirement is basin technology. NCBA’s Director of Environmental Issues, Tamara McCann Thies, is in Iowa this week, speaking with cattle producers about alternative technologies. 

Building basins around operations in places like Iowa, where groundwater is very close to the surface, would be cost-prohibitive to build and operate. Fortunately, the rule allows for the development of voluntary, site-specific alternative technologies that achieve the zero discharge requirement.  The burden of developing and validating these alternative technologies, however, lies completely at the feet of the CAFO industry and the engineering consultants assisting in the process. NCBA supports government funding to expedite and demonstrate appropriate technologies that will allow CAFO feedlots to utilize their land and management resources to improve environmental protection for air and water in the most efficient ways possible.  This effort is critical to maintaining viable livestock production with grass-roots participation in the U.S.  We believe these technologies will demonstrate more sustainable, affordable environmental solutions to the air and water quality challenges of managing open feedlot systems in a variety of climates.

Environmental Award Selection:  The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) Selection Committee is meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana this week to judge applications for the 14th Annual Environmental Stewardship Award. This selection committee is comprised of cattle producers, range scientists, wildlife managers, former ESAP winners, and conservation directors from across the country. Committee members are meeting at the global headquarters of Dow AgroSciences LLC, who sponsors the program along with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). The Environmental Stewardship Program recognizes cattle producers who use innovative practices to protect and enhance natural resources while maintaining or increasing the profitability of their businesses. The seven regional winners are to be selected this week and will be announced this month.

Census Data Released: This Thursday, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released final data from the 2002 Census of Agriculture. According to the USDA, the final data provide "detailed production, economic, demographic and environmental data including facts on number and type of farms, land use, value of sales and government payments, production expenses, hired labor, computer and Internet use, livestock and poultry inventory and sales, aquaculture, irrigation, crop acreage and production, gender and race of operator, production contracts, number of people in farm households, tenure of operator, chemical use, value of land and buildings, production contracts, organic acreage and other topics." Data details are now online at: www.usda.gov/nass

Obesity Hearing: The House Government Reform Committee is holding a hearing today on the government's role in combating obesity.  Those testifying on the issue include: Dr. Lester M. Crawford, Acting Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Eric Hentges, Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion at USDA, and other nutrition gurus such as Dr. Arthur Agatston, Cardiologist and Author of The South Beach Diet. The Full Committee hearing is entitled, "The Supersizing of America: The Federal Government’s Role in Combating Obesity and Promoting Healthy. Details to follow. NCBA will continue to be involved with policy developments on this hot topic and reiterate the importance and benefits of including beef in America’s healthy, balanced diets.

Public Land Ranchers: NCBA Director of Federal Lands and PLC Executive Director, Jeff Eisenberg, will be in Casper, Wyoming this week for the Wyoming Stock Growers Summer Convention. Eisenberg will be speaking to participants about top public lands issues currently affecting cattle operations.

In related news, the Public Lands Council publishes a "Grazing Issues Update," which gives an in-depth look at the most current issues affecting public lands. The June 2, 2004 edition covers information on monitoring funding for the BLM range program, drought and the Tonto National Forest, noxious weeds legislation, horse and burro issues, sage grouse issues, wolf matters and more! The full text of this informative update is found online at hill.beef.org/giu .

Young Cattlemen’s Conference: Various NCBA staff are traveling this week for the annual Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) national tour. More than forty young cattle industry leaders are a part of the educational event. After various stops across the country, the group will be in Washington D.C. next week. The 24-year-old YCC program is designed to develop leadership qualities in young beef industry leaders who were nominated by their respective state cattlemen's associations. More information in next week’s CCC. 

New Manager of Legislative Affairs: NCBA is pleased to welcome a new member to its Washington D.C. team, Colin Woodall, our new Manager of Legislative Affairs. Mr. Woodall is venturing off the Hill, leaving his position as State Projects Assistant with U.S. Senator John Cornyn (TX) to work with NCBA on top policy issues affecting cattle ranchers. As a member of Sen. Cornyn’s staff, Mr. Woodall worked extensively on agriculture, interior, energy and water appropriations. He was highly involved in legislative issues affecting agriculture, working one-on-one with local, state, and federal government agencies and elected officials on special projects. Mr. Woodall’s background and experiences are the perfect fit for NCBA’s Washington D.C. team. Mr. Woodall holds a B.S. in Agricultural Systems Management from Texas A&M University.

Montana on June 10: Al Johnson, the chief agriculture trade negotiator for the U.S., is visiting the area of Lewistown, Montana to attend the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) Mid-Year Meeting next week.  NCBA and the MSGA are working together to plan schedule and media attendees for this event. Johnson is scheduled to attend meetings with MSGA, tour the 2004 Montana Junior Beef Expo, and head out for a work-day excursion to learn about the workings of a cattle operation. For more information about the event, contact Michelle Reinke mreinke@beef.org or 202-347-0228.

California on June 10:  NCBA staff and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) are preparing for next week’s kick-off Conservation Workshop on Thursday, June 10th at 8:30 am at the Work Family Ranch, in San Miguel, CA. The Works are the national winners of the 2003 Environmental Stewardship Awards Program, and will be demonstrating some of the conservation practices they have implemented on their land.  Local NRCS officials will also be available to address participation in the Cost-Share programs available through the Farm Bill. This is an excellent opportunity for producers and the public to better familiarize themselves with the advancements ranchers are taking to integrate working lands conservation practices within their operations.

Media Contact:

Tanya Augustson or Karen Batra at 202-347-0228 taugustson@beef.org or kbatra@beef.org

This publication is funded by cattle producers and other industry supporters through their voluntary membership contributions to NCBA. To join the tens of thousands of cattle producers from across the U.S. in working to preserve our legacy, contact NCBA Member Services at 1-866-BEEF-USA or Membership@beef.org.

For more information, please visit our web site at hill.beef.org.

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